Why You Don't Need to Run Like Crazy to Train for a 10-K

Good Morning America's Ginger Zee is prepping for RUN 10 FEED 10 by varying her workouts—and she reached a major milestone this past week.

Why You Don't Need to Run Like Crazy to Train for a 10-KGood Morning America's Ginger Zee is prepping for RUN 10 FEED 10 by varying her workouts—and she reached a major milestone this past week.

Mark Langowski

Ginger Zee, Good Morning America's chief meteorologist, is hosting and taking on RUN 10 FEED 10 this fall. Each week leading up the 10-K race on September 21, she and her trainer, Mark Langowski, will share updates on her training journey. Here's what went down this past week.

Being able to run those five miles this week taught me a big lesson: that you don’t have to run every day to successfully train for a race. In fact, doing strength training and a variety of cardio workouts seems to be building my endurance and helping my speed, while also giving my injury and joints a break.

I started the week with a half hour on the Arc Trainer between shows on Monday, bodyweight training with Mark on Tuesday, bike riding on Wednesday, resting on Thursday, and surfing and swimming on Friday.

Then, Saturday, I ran five miles with almost no stops! I kept the pace between eight- and 8:30-minute miles. Learning from weeks before, I stretched a ton, which included whipping out a foam roller. Sunday I did sprints in the pool.

As hard as running can be on the body, I feel like it is still such an incredible workout. It's so efficient, and my inner thighs are feeling better than they have all summer. Five miles felt better than ever, too, and I can’t wait to push myself even farther this week. #Run10Feed10, here I come!

Notes from Her Trainer
The most important part of Ginger's training schedule last week was the five-mile run. On Saturday, I anxiously waited to hear from her to see if her hip injury had flared up at all—and luckily it hadn't. That was the best news of the week!

The biggest misconception that runners have when preparing for a 5-K or 10-K race is that they have to rely solely on running when they train. Ginger demonstrates how this is just a myth. Throughout her training, we have kept running to a minimum in order to reduce impact on her hip, instead using other methods of training to ensure that her endurance is improving. When Ginger is in the pool or on the elliptical, she gives 110 percent, and it shows. I see that improved endurance during her strength workouts, too, where I have been able to push her harder than ever.

Only two more weeks of long runs, and then we will begin to taper back for the race. Ginger really is at the top of her game!

Ginger Zee is the Chief Meteorologist for ABC's Good Morning America, reporting on the nation's weather throughout the morning broadcast. Additionally, Ginger reports across all ABC News broadcasts and digital platforms. She will be hosting Women's Health'sRUN 10 FEED 10 New York Flagship event on September 21, running alongside all participants.

Mark Langowski is a celebrity (ACSM & NASM) trainer who founded Body by Mark Wellness 13 years ago. He and his team of wellness professionals work with athletes, television personalities, CEOs, and hundreds of others across the country. He will be training Ginger for the upcoming RUN 10 FEED 10 race and offering tips and tools for others to train along with Ginger and himself. Get more wellness tips from Mark at bodybymark.com and on Instagram @bodybymarkwellness.